SEC on display in The Picks

Published: Friday, October 5, 2012 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, October 5, 2012 at 12:13 a.m.

We brag about the six national titles in a row. We tell the rest of the world that we have speed they can only imagine. We cautioned Texas A&M and Missouri about what they were about to encounter.

And here we are, in the sixth week of college football, and four of the stops for GameDay have been in the SEC.

Dr. Football isn’t naive enough to think that ESPN’s deal with the SEC has nothing to do with it, but everyone else must be getting tired of it.

We all know Florida has been involved in games where GameDay has been the most of any team in the country, but here’s a statistic that may surprise you. While South Carolina has hosted Chris Fowler and the boys four previous times, Athens has had the crew in only twice (both losses by Georgia).

That’s one more than Penn and Bowling Green.

Of course, they have been to the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party three times (all Georgia losses) and what happens this Saturday will have a lot to do with whether they head to Jacksonville at the end of the month.

At any rate, The Picks had another good week going 8-2 to make the overall record 28-12. Although I might have to call the West Virginia-Baylor game a miss because I only had the two teams combining for 103 points.

LSU at Florida: I’ve had several people tell me that they hope I pick against Florida because that means the Gators will win. Fu-nny. It only happened once. This year. It has been awhile since Florida has beaten a top-10 team in The Swamp. The last time was against LSU in 2008. Since then, Florida has gone 0-3 against top-20 teams at home. I think the Gators are due. Florida, 28-24.

Georgia at South Carolina: I originally picked Georgia, but I can’t help but wonder what the loss of Michael Bennett will mean both physically and psychologically. The Bulldogs have never lost to the Gamecocks three straight times. Until now. South Carolina, 28-23.

West Virginia at Texas: First team to have its serve broken loses. West Virginia, 48-42.

Miami-Notre Dame: The Irish defense has been one of the real surprises this season, but it hasn’t been tested like it will be this week. I buried the Hurricanes a few weeks ago, but they have rallied. Miami, 28-21.

Nebraska at Ohio State: I wonder what Urban Meyer did with all his Gator gear. What a garage sale that would be. Ohio State, 24-20.

Arkansas at Auburn: This is a loser-leaves-town game. Although I don’t think anything could save John L. Smith in Fayetteville. Arkansas, 34-27.

Mississippi State at Kentucky: This is the kind of game the Bulldogs would find a way to lose. Not this year. Not against this Kentucky. Mississippi State, 24-10.

Vanderbilt at Missouri: Can Vandy stop being Vandy? Mizzou, 28-19.

Texas A&M at Mississippi: Johnny Football’s legend grows. A&M, 35-21.

Washington at Oregon: This week the Ducks will be dressed in Lady Gaga attire. Oregon, 45-24.

Contact Pat Dooley at 352-374-5053 or at dooleyp@gvillesun.com. And follow at Twitter.com/Pat_Dooley.

<p>The rest of the country must be sick of the SEC.</p><p>We brag about the six national titles in a row. We tell the rest of the world that we have speed they can only imagine. We cautioned Texas A&M and Missouri about what they were about to encounter.</p><p>And here we are, in the sixth week of college football, and four of the stops for GameDay have been in the SEC.</p><p>Dr. Football isn't naive enough to think that ESPN's deal with the SEC has nothing to do with it, but everyone else must be getting tired of it.</p><p>We all know Florida has been involved in games where GameDay has been the most of any team in the country, but here's a statistic that may surprise you. While South Carolina has hosted Chris Fowler and the boys four previous times, Athens has had the crew in only twice (both losses by Georgia). </p><p>That's one more than Penn and Bowling Green.</p><p>Of course, they have been to the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party three times (all Georgia losses) and what happens this Saturday will have a lot to do with whether they head to Jacksonville at the end of the month.</p><p>At any rate, The Picks had another good week going 8-2 to make the overall record 28-12. Although I might have to call the West Virginia-Baylor game a miss because I only had the two teams combining for 103 points.</p><p><b>LSU at Florida:</b> I've had several people tell me that they hope I pick against Florida because that means the Gators will win. Fu-nny. It only happened once. This year. It has been awhile since Florida has beaten a top-10 team in The Swamp. The last time was against LSU in 2008. Since then, Florida has gone 0-3 against top-20 teams at home. I think the Gators are due. <b>Florida, 28-24.</b></p><p><b>Georgia at South Carolina:</b> I originally picked Georgia, but I can't help but wonder what the loss of Michael Bennett will mean both physically and psychologically. The Bulldogs have never lost to the Gamecocks three straight times. Until now. <b>South Carolina, 28-23.</b></p><p><b>West Virginia at Texas: First team to have its serve broken loses. <b>West Virginia, 48-42.</b></p><p><b>Miami-Notre Dame:</b> The Irish defense has been one of the real surprises this season, but it hasn't been tested like it will be this week. I buried the Hurricanes a few weeks ago, but they have rallied. <b>Miami, 28-21.</b></p><p><b>Nebraska at Ohio State:</b> I wonder what Urban Meyer did with all his Gator gear. What a garage sale that would be. <b>Ohio State, 24-20.</b></p><p><b>Arkansas at Auburn:</b> This is a loser-leaves-town game. Although I don't think anything could save John L. Smith in Fayetteville. <b>Arkansas, 34-27.</b></p><p><b>Mississippi State at Kentucky:</b> This is the kind of game the Bulldogs would find a way to lose. Not this year. Not against this Kentucky. <b>Mississippi State, 24-10.</b></p><p><b>Vanderbilt at Missouri:</b> Can Vandy stop being Vandy? <b>Mizzou, 28-19.</b></p><p><b>Texas A&M at Mississippi:</b> Johnny Football's legend grows. <b>A&M, 35-21.</b></p><p><b>Washington at Oregon:</b> This week the Ducks will be dressed in Lady Gaga attire. <b>Oregon, 45-24.</b></p><p>Contact Pat Dooley at 352-374-5053 or at dooleyp@gvillesun.com. And follow at Twitter.com/Pat_Dooley.</p>